Every once in a while I see a Southern open-top hopper (random or single MOW ballast delivery or coal service ?) or a Southern box car in an NS train around here, again usually in carload service. A year or so ago I took a photo of an orange-red "Bad Order"* tag on one - even though the reporting marks were "NS" - and posted it here. See my post of 01-26-2011 about halfway down this Page16 of 46 of the "Trackside Lounge: 1Q 2011" at: http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/p/184828/2037320.aspx#2037320
- Paul North.
*You know - its "order" was "its 'bad' ", or it was "out of order" and needed some more "order" added . . .
Carl, I just figured it was run through power or trackage rights. When I rode Amtrak to Chicago last year, all I saw was UP.
James
A belated thank-you to those who congratulated us on our "promotions"- we are now proud GRAND-parents. Stuart is such a cutie, too, and will most assuredly get indoctrinated into the railfanning pasttime whenever Grandpa gets the chance.
Brian (IA) http://blhanel.rrpicturearchives.net.
Brian, congratulations on the new addition to your family!! I know that he'll be indoctrinated into rail fanning. Best wishes to all the family.
I haven't had much luck taking my own grandchildren railfanning, and they aren't that far away. My own daughter, who was raised on trips to the tracks, holds them very closely to jam-packed schedules (can't fault her--these are three very happy, well-adjusted kids).So I took some of my frustrations out on seven-year-old Zachary and his dad this morning. We had a good time, but if it hadn't been for the scoots we wouldn't have seen much at Elmhurst. So again I played my trump card and visited Proviso with them.
We went to lunch with their family, which included Zachary's great-grandmother. She was regaling us with tales of her late husband, who was raised in western Canada, and came east by side-door Pullman (among other freight cars) when he was given the possibility of employment by an uncle. This was done with the knowledge and approval of his mother, who even had made him a back-pack. We're talking about the late 1930s, here, I believe. She had railroads who had worked for various railroads, and some had even been killed in their employment.
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20371418?source=pop Argh! - Local news media has not been kind to Uncle Pete, but fails to understand that the neighborhood around this area continues to create a nightmare that is not UP's fault.
This comment was posted to the above article in Mudchicken's post. Is it any wonder this country is in the shape it is in? /rant.
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
"Attention, all of you who may be defying the law, disrespecting private property, and displaying no common sense whatsoever: nobody can see you alongside, between the cars, or under the train, and just in case you didn't equate that escaping-air sound with brakes releasing, you might want to quickly move away from the...oops, too late--our bad!"
Yeah, right!I'm sure the railroad would be willing to listen to any ideas that this person has for mitigating the problem. But he's the one who needs the education.Yesterday, while watching trains on the platform at Elmhurst, I noticed an interesting phenomenon. The station lies between two city streets (grade crossings) only a block apart, and there's a pedestrian tunnel midway between the two crossings. So a slow-moving manifest comes through eastbound, heading into our yard. While it was passing (it never stopped), nobody was in enough of a rush to use the tunnel (I ought to know--I was virtually the ugly troll at one end of the tunnel). And when the train went by, waves of humanity waited for the gates to go completely up, then walked across the tracks in both directions. No complaints, no hands on hips, no angry-looking speed walking--just acceptance that this is part of life in the city, and maybe even gratitude to the railroad that gave them the excuse for being a little late.
I'm not sure how this ties in with the Denver leg-severing incident, but it certainly indicates a much more intelligent approach to things than was shown by Zug's respondent.
I got to listen to someone tell me at work today that "the train company only likes to run trains to keep people from getting done. Like anyone actually sends anything in those cars anymore anyway..."
Ain't no helping someone like that.
Dan
Uh, really??!! Hows about 70% of what's in every American household traveled via train at one or more points in its life?! Hows about that, Bubba???
Nance-CCABW/LEI
“Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” --Will Rogers
Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right! --unknown
I elected not to attempt to correct this person...didn't need to hear the squishy sound of me banging my head on the wall.
Today's fun you ask? A446, X349, X116, L576, A491, Q199 & O490. I missed M342, A415, A416, L524, L596, L531 and L535. Not bad for three hours.
Best part? A marathon type race through Oshkosh failed to inform the CN that they'd be crossing the tracks. When I showed up with the camera, the race staff asked what I was going to photograph. When I told them about all the trains in the area the reaction was shock. "They still use these tracks?" Many runners were quite irritated that they had to wait for the trains. I called the CN Emergency Number to inform them...they had no idea about it. So the RTC gave all the trains a verbal warning about the crossings and the runners. Sad race management.
Sounds more like NONEXISTANT race management...
It kind of sounds like what happened in Des Moines a year or two back. A race is set up that crosses the tracks used by the UP/IAIS. Not a lot of traffic, but what there is moves at 10 mph. As the race is underway the IAIS runs one of their daily trains through town, tying up the crossing for a while.
Jeff
Found both of these today--
"The probability that someone's watching you is proportional to the stupidity of your action."
"To err is human, to blame it on somebody else shows management potential."
A little trivia: and I'll even give a hint. Why should you always wear a belt on the railroad? And not just to hold yer britches up, although that may be one way to stop traffic when flagging traffic!
Hint: I thought of this when I read the knuckle thread.
zugmann A little trivia: and I'll even give a hint. Why should you always wear a belt on the railroad?
A little trivia: and I'll even give a hint. Why should you always wear a belt on the railroad?
zugmann A little trivia: and I'll even give a hint. Why should you always wear a belt on the railroad? And not just to hold yer britches up, although that may be one way to stop traffic when flagging traffic! Hint: I thought of this when I read the knuckle thread.
But I've always worn overalls.
I did carry a bungee cord for doing what I think you're getting at when I was a conductor. The few times I had to do it, I usually couldn't get it to work. I usually ended up using other means to accomplish the task.
I think Jeff has it. I used my belt for this twice in the last year. Worked like a charm both times. I guess if you really got into a pinch, you could take the overalls off and use them, plus it will answer the question of what a conductor doesn't wear underneath...
I haven't worn overalls in awhile... they don't work too well with the RCO vest. Too many shoulder straps.
I take it you're referring to the use of the belt to hold something up that isn't trousers...
Yep.
I am trying to reach Zardoz who had a wonderful line on this Forum when he/she wrote: "The best safety device is a well rested engineer."
What a great line. I'm a writer and would like to quote you. Don Phillips and Jim Wrinn suggested I go on this forum to ask you.
Let me know and we can talk offline. Thanks.
Tex, welcome!
If Jim doesn't respond directly to your request, just click on the "Zardoz" name on any of his posts here, and it will give you the opportunity to "start a conversation" with him.
I'm sure he'll be happy to give you his blessing.Meanwhile, tell us more about what you're writing!
Tex,
Check your email.
Jim
CShaveRR I take it you're referring to the use of the belt to hold something up that isn't trousers...
Guess I should answer this. Use your belt to hold up the cut lever so you can put the knuckle in. Esp if the knuckle falls out, and you don't let the cut lever back down. That way you can replace the knuckle without having the coupler spew out its guts. An old RRer told me that trick a while back, and I have had the chance to use it more than once.
It's bad... there's a new manager we have 'round these parts. I'm not that old, but this guy makes me feel ancient. Fresh out of school, ready to grab the world by the, um, horns. I hope he turns out to be one of the good guys and has a good career if he wants it. We'll see.
CNW 6000 I got to listen to someone tell me at work today that "the train company only likes to run trains to keep people from getting done. Like anyone actually sends anything in those cars anymore anyway..." Ain't no helping someone like that.
Johnny
"How seriously do you want to argue with crazy people ?"
(from an NPR report about a month ago on the assertion that the 'bail-out' of auto manufacturers wasn't really needed . . . )
Johnny, owing to self-inflicted communications problems at home, we got your e-mail today, and can't make a reply yet. Just letting you know that you are in our thoughts.
Quentin, that goes for you and Jean as well.
.....Thanks Carl / Pat. Appreciated.
Quentin
We're back home again, with communications restored. Our condolences to Johnny Degges on the loss of his wife Ricki. Pat and I had the pleasure of meeting Ricki on a couple of occasions when she and Johnny were touring the country by rail. We hope that we were able to help make her visits more fun and more comfortable.
Oh my goodness-- Johnny, I am so very sorry for your loss. May it comfort you to know that others share in your loss.
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